Is Your Cat Well Cared for?

Many people mistakenly believe that cats are easy pets that require little or no work. This is not always true. While cats are usually not necessarily a difficult pet to have, their owners do have a few responsibilities to take care of. We’re going to talk about a few of the basic duties you can expect when owning a cat.

The first concern with raising a cat is meeting his nutritional needs. Feeding a cat is essentially a simple process unless your kitten or cat has special needs. Whether you are considering a kitten or an adult cat, you should ask the breeder or owner what the cat is currently being fed and try to stick to that diet. If your kitten is not already on solid food, you may have to gradually mix in solid food more and more (over a course of 7-10 days) until he is eating solid food alone. It’s your choice whether you want to put your cat on dry food (known as kibble), moist (in pouches), or wet (canned) food, but it is recommended that you consider the fact that cats who eat dry food have less dental problems than those who primarily eat soft food. Be sure that your cat always has access to clean water and never feed him cow’s milk.

Litter boxes are quite simple to use. They consist of the basic tray, a liner of some sort (similar to a small trash bag), and litter. The standard cleaning process usually consists of using a litter scoop to remove the clumps of feces between litter replacements. A good rule of hygiene to go by is to fully change out the litter about once a week-sooner if it starts to smell.

Grooming your cat is another important care responsibility. If your cat has short hair, he may not require nearly as much grooming as a cat with long hair. Long haired cats should be brushed once a day to keep the fur from matting. Be aware that some breeds of cat shed excessively while other short-haired breeds may hardly shed at all. You don’t need to bathe your cat unless he has gotten into something particularly messy. Cats naturally clean themselves; in fact, most of their day is filled with grooming themselves.

When it comes to satisfying your cat’s emotional needs, your experience may differ from other cat owners’. Cats have different personalities, just like people. Some cats enjoy being around humans while others tend to be more reclusive or solitary in nature. It’s important that you offer your cat affection, but try to do so on your cat’s terms. He will seek you out when he wants a cuddle, usually by rubbing against your legs or hopping onto your lap. Encourage this, as it’s simply your cat’s way of expressing his affection for you. A nice scratch behind his ears or a stroke down his spine will let him know that you are pleased with him. Just keep in mind that the language of touch is better understandable by cats rather than verbal praise.

Exercise is also important for your cat, but they can get plenty of that indoors. Try investing in a kitty gym, scratching post, or pet steps to encourage your cat to be active.

At the end of the day, it's your responsibility to make sure that your cat's needs are being met. So take some time to sit down and evaluate how well your cat is being cared for!